Types of Collisions

Front

What is a collision?

Back

A collision is an event where two or more bodies exert forces on each other for a relatively short time, resulting in a change in their motion.

Front

What are the two main types of collisions?

Back

The two main types of collisions are elastic collisions and inelastic collisions.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is a type of collision where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What is an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.

Front

What is a perfectly inelastic collision?

Back

A perfectly inelastic collision is a type of inelastic collision where the colliding objects stick together after the collision.

Front

What happens to total kinetic energy in a perfectly inelastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the total kinetic energy decreases.

Front

What is the law of conservation of momentum?

Back

The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces act on it.

Front

What happens to total momentum in any type of collision?

Back

The total momentum remains constant in any type of collision.

Front

What is conserved in a perfectly elastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly elastic collision, both total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved; in inelastic collisions, only momentum is conserved.